Hall of Fame columnist, Badger alum and occasional University of Wisconsin professor Len Shapiro utilizes a rolodex of maxims when teaching his sports journalism course, and in my final column for the Badger Herald, one in particular comes to mind.

“You will be rewarded for showing up.”

Now, Shapiro was making the point that a good journalist will always make the extra phone call, drive 50 minutes to see the high school game and in general just not take the easy way out. Good solid advice for any career, really.

But it might apply to Wisconsin students even more prominently.

As any good SOAR leader will tell you, this university and city has just about anything that an incoming freshman would like to try. We have three revenue sports at the top of their game, a plethora of clubs for all interests and, yes, two daily student newspapers.*

*Mandatory pitch on behalf of the BH: This place really is awesome. I am trying to avoid the heartfelt farewell column that you, the reader, don’t really care about. But seriously, if you have any interest in writing, expressing your opinion or just generally pissing people off, come to the Herald. You will not regret it. I love you guys.

All you have to do is show up. Several examples from this year alone prove it.

For the Ohio State football game, tickets were being sold online for $300-$400. It was enough to pay for a student’s entire season ticket package.

Theoretically, I can understand the temptation to cash in one game to pay for the rest.

Practically, those who sold their OSU tickets are abject morons.

From the very first kickoff – bless you David Gilreath, you finally brought one back – to the rushing of the field, it was the most exciting UW sporting event since … well … ever. No one in attendance will ever be a part of 80,000 people simultaneously enjoying that same level of euphoria ever again.

Unless you are one of the vultures buying tickets solely to sell them – dare I make a “Worst People On Campus Joke Here”? – what was the point of buying season tickets if not hoping for just a chance to be a part of a moment like that.

And all you had to do was show up.

For basketball, the story repeated itself. The No. 1 undefeated Buckeyes came to town, and scalping prices skyrocketed. For those who missed the game, all Jordan Taylor did was submit THE greatest performance of a Badger basketball player ever. And I mean ever-ever.

If there is anything to learn from Ohio State besides the jersey-to-tattoo monetary scale, it is just come to the damn game. In 10 years I will still remember taking down No. 1 Ohio State twice. I wonder if the scalpers will remember the cheap beer they bought with their haul?

The tour guide speeches of limitless opportunity don’t lie when it comes to Wisconsin. Be it snow days, protests, the Terrace or a good old-fashioned ass-whupping of Ohio State, Madison provides memories that created the phrase the “good ‘ol days.”

Just make sure you are there to see it.

Michael is graduating with a degree in journalism and history. For those who still are curious about the View From The Bleachers, check out his new home at Paulbunyansaxe.com. For your favorite memories of Madison, email Michael at [email protected] or follow him on twitter @michaelbleach.

Thanks for reading over three years.